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Development Groups

The USSA Cross Country Development Pipeline identifies four distinct groups each year in addition to the U.S. Ski Team's A, B and D teams (see Nominations and Teams tab). The USSA Development Pipeline funnels athletes starting at the Junior 2 age class continuing up to Senior class athletes.

J2 National Camp (J2NC)Each year, the best 14-15 year old junior cross-country ski racers in the nation participate in the J2 National Camp (J2NC).

Regional Elite Group (REG)Each season the best junior athletes participate in the Regional Elite Group (REG) summer camps in their home regions. The REG camps include general and ski-specific assessments, ski technique, and education opportunities. The camps are led by key regional club coaches and the U.S. Ski Team staff. With the help of regional coaches attending the camps, the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff selects the top athletes from all four REG camps (East, Central, West and Alaska) and names these athletes to the National Elite Group (NEG).

National Elite Group (NEG)These athletes are offered the opportunity to train alongside the U.S. Ski Team athletes. The National Training Group (NTG) is a portion of the development pipeline that feeds athletes onto the A, B and D national teams. The NTG objective is to bring the nation's best developing athletes together with higher frequency to challenging, educational and motivational U.S. Ski Team training camps and international racing trips. From the perspective of the U.S. Ski Team this is a talent identification tool, an intense training opportunity, and the pathway to the Team.

For more information about the J2NC, REG, NEG, and NTG and athletes who have been announced to these teams, please click on the tabs above.